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Classification Title: Instructor
Priority Review Date: 02/15/2025
Business Unit Description: Faculty
Full-Time/Part Time: Full-Time
Position Status: Regular
FLSA
Exempt
Union Representation: Non-Union
Union Code: N/A
Unit/Department: College of Law Faculty
College/Unit: College of Law Dean
Division: Academic Division
Location: SP 270
Link to Department Website or Custom Search Page: https://www.niu.edu/law/index.shtml
Overview
Northern Illinois University (NIU) is a student-centered, nationally recognized public research university, with expertise that benefits our region and spans the globe in a wide variety of fields including the sciences, humanities, arts, business, engineering, education, health and law. Through our main campus in DeKalb, Illinois, and education centers for students and working professionals in Chicago, Naperville, Oregon and Rockford, NIU offers more than 100 areas of study while serving a diverse and international student body.
Situated within NIU, The College of Law has a rich history of distinction in legal education is rooted in access, diversity, and excellence in teaching. Student success is our top priority. Our charter is simple: We provide our students with a high-quality and affordable legal education. We want our students to realize the value of a legal education – how their training can help them professionally and how their preparation to practice law will allow them to positively impact the communities in which they live.
The highly skilled faculty at NIU College of Law are educated at some of the nation’s most prestigious law schools, and they bring a broad range of professional experience to the classroom. They are committed teachers and scholars. Our faculty invest significant time in ensuring student success by designing innovative teaching methods, fully engaging students inside and outside the classroom, and providing students with individualized attention and feedback.
NIU College of Law is particularly proud to be routinely named a top law school nationally for diversity, value, and careers in public interest and government service. Our diversity enriches the classroom learning experience, strengthens our curriculum, and prepares our students for practice in a richly diverse region and nation. We will continue to cultivate this diversity, promote a culture of equity and inclusion, and support an environment in which all constituents of the law school feel valued and know they have a voice and opportunity to participate in the future of the law school.
NIU Law Legal Writing Program: The Legal Writing and Advocacy Course is a core course in the first and second-year curriculum at NIU Law. The four-credit, two-semester course is structured to help first and second-year law students acquire and refine the basic legal writing and analysis skills fundamental to the successful completion of law school and to the competent practice of law. As a secondary goal, students in Legal Writing and Advocacy may also be introduced to other skills and topics important to the practice of law, including oral communication of legal issues, interviewing and counseling, professional responsibility, and motion practice.
Position Summary
In addition to, and in conjunction with the Legal Writing Program, NIU Law assists law students in achieving their greatest potential through the Academic Success Program (ASP). There are numerous components to ASP throughout the course of the students’ academic career at NIU Law that the Legal Writing/ASP Instructors are responsible for delivering. As part of ASP, all 1L students participate in the Introduction to Legal Methods course. The latter half of the course, during the second seven weeks of the first semester, is taught by the Legal Writing/ASP Instructors and introduces students to analytical writing. Further, as part of ASP, select incoming 1L students are required to participate in a Jump Start Orientation program the week prior to the 1L Orientation. These students are instructed in basic analytical and rule development skills during a week of writing-intensive course work taught and implemented by the ASP Instructors.
Further, select admitted students are invited to participate in the 1L ASP based on objective criteria, including undergraduate GPA and law school admission test scores. Participation is a mandatory condition of admission for students who meet certain criteria determined by the faculty. Students participating in the program attend weekly mentor and study sessions conducted by upper-level student Graduate Assistants for their four doctrinal courses. As part of the 1L ASP, 1L students whose GPA is below 2.2 by the end of the fall semester are required to participate in the exam writing seminar, a six-week, one-hour, weekly, ungraded course taught by the ASP Instructors. The writing-intensive exam writing seminar focuses on exam-writing, outlining, and study skills. 2L students with a GPA of 2.4 and below are required to participate in Upper-Level ASP, a semester-long, one-hour, weekly, ungraded course taught by the ASP Instructors. The writing-intensive Upper-Level ASP focuses on exam-writing, outlining, and study skills.
The Legal Writing/ASP Instructors, together with the Director of Legal Writing and the Director of Academic Success, are responsible for the delivery of the legal writing and academic success programs at NIU Law. The Legal Writing/ASP Instructors report to both directors. This is a ten-month position within the University.
Essential Duties and Responsibilities
- Teach the second half of the required Introduction to Legal Methods Course to first-year law students
- Teach the required Legal Writing and Advocacy Course to first and second-year law students
- Plan and develop legal writing and legal skills problems for these courses
- Provide individual instruction to first-year students
- Grade and comment on legal writing and legal skills assignments
- Assist in the planning, development, and delivery of programs tailored to help ASP students reach their full potential
- Provide academic counseling to ASP students
- Assist in the hiring, training, and oversight of upper-class students who serve as Graduate Assistants for ASP students
- Assist in the planning and delivery of meetings geared toward developing general study and exam skills for the entire first-year class during the fall semester
- Assist in the planning, development, and delivery of the week-long academic orientation program for select incoming 1L students participating in the NIU Law Jump Start Program
- Assist in the planning, development, and delivery of the orientation program for the entire first-year class as needed
- Cooperate and assist with other programs involving oral and written communication skills, including the second-year moot court competition and third-year external moot court teams
- Provide individual instruction to students selected to participate in Upper-Level ASP during fall semester
- Provide individual instruction to first-year students selected to participate in the exam-writing seminar during spring semester
- Assist in the planning, development, and delivery of Bar programs for upper-level students and alumni
- Assist in the continuing in-depth evaluation of both the legal writing and academic success programs and identify and implement program improvements
- Other responsibilities that may become necessary as determined by the Deans and program directors
Minimum Required Qualifications
- J.D. from an ABA accredited law school, a valid license to practice law, strong writing skills, strong academic credentials, and a minimum of two years of teaching and/or practice experience.
Additional Requirements
N/A
Preferred Qualifications
Preferred qualifications include the ability to work well within a coordinated program structure, background or training in counseling or educational theory, the ability to work with a diverse student population, and strong organizational skills.
Physical Demands Summary
In Person Instruction
Anticipated Appointment Start Date
03/16/2025
Anticipated Appointment End Date
05/31/2025
Percent of Staff Year
0.83
Standard Hours Per Week
37.50
Salary
Commensurate with experience; Offers a robust benefits package.
Hourly or Semi-monthly Pay Rate/Range
See above
Earn Type
Salary
Application Procedure
For full consideration, prospective applicants should visit https://employment.niu.edu/postings/80789 to apply and upload the following materials by February 15, 2025.
Required application materials to be submitted:
- Cover Letter
- Resume/Curriculum Vitae
- Personal Vision and Diversity Statement
- Unofficial Transcript, with Official at Hire
- List of at least 3 Professional References
Applicants received after February 15, 2025 are welcomed but will be considered as needed.
Quick Link to Applicant
https://employment.niu.edu/postings/80789
Is Background Check Required: Yes
EEO Statement Summary
In accordance with applicable statutes and regulations, NIU is an equal opportunity employer and does not discriminate on the basis of race, ethnicity, color, national origin, ancestry, sex, religion, age, disability (physical and mental), marital status, veteran status, sexual orientation, gender (identity and expression), political affiliation, or any other factor unrelated to professional qualifications, and will comply with all applicable federal and state statutes, regulations and orders pertaining to nondiscrimination, equal opportunity and affirmative action.
The following person has been designated to handle inquiries regarding the non-discrimination policies:
Ethics and Compliance Officer, Title IX Coordinator
Health Services Building Room 230
TitleIXCoordinator@niu.edu
815-753-5560
Visa Policy
In compliance with federal law, all persons hired will be required to verify identity and eligibility to work in the United States and to complete the required employment eligibility verification document form upon hire.
ADA Accommodation
NIU remains committed to ensuring that its recruitment and application procedures include full opportunities for applicants with disabilities. Employment opportunities will not be denied to anyone because of the need to make accommodations for a person’s disability during either the application or interview process. An applicant who believes they require an accommodation to participate in the employment process due to a disability may request that accommodation through the Accommodation Request Form. For further assistance, please contact the office of Affirmative Action and Equal Opportunity (AAEO) at ada@niu.edu.
Safety Information
NIU provides annual reports on campus security and fire safety.
Read the Annual Security and Fire Safety Report.
Contact the Ethics and Compliance Office at 815-753-9364 for a hard copy.
Position Number: 00038803
